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Bulldogs NRL season starts now: Barba

Joe Barton

They're more than two months late to the party but according to Canterbury their NRL season starts this weekend.

For the first time this season the Bulldogs can go close to fielding the same team which won last year's minor premiership, and star fullback Ben Barba says both his and Canterbury's best form will be just around the corner as a result.

It will surprise nobody that Barba and the Bulldogs are edging closer to their best following the return of international front-rowers James Graham (suspension) and Sam Kasiano (leg).

And with suspended centre Krisnan Inu also returning for Sunday's clash with Newcastle, the Bulldogs juggernaut is coming together in eerily similar fashion to last season.

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And from last year's grand final side, which went down to Melbourne 14-4, only four names on this week's teamsheet are different.

"This is the first week in a long time since we've had nearly the majority of the grand final side of last year," said Barba, who admitted the Dogs were still a fair way behind league-leaders South Sydney.

"I think it starts now. We've really got to continue to try and work hard for those wins."

Should Canterbury travel back down the F3 on Sunday night with another win, they'll be on the same competition points after 10 rounds as they were last season.

The warning sirens across the competition are sounding.

"We can definitely take a lot of confidence out of that," centre Josh Morris said on Wednesday.

"We're getting there."

Barba admits he is yet to reach the form which won him last year's Dally M medal, but says last week's come-from-behind 24-16 victory against the Warriors in Wellington was the most comfortable he's felt on the field all season and the team's confidence was rising.

"It might not have looked like that the other night when we were 16-0 down, but the confidence was always there that we could probably win," said Barba.

"... It wasn't just going to happen overnight, me coming back in and kill it again.

"It is something I've got to continue to work on and work really hard on, trying to even get glimpses of the performances I did last year.

"I'm working hard every week with everyone here to try and improve my performances."

The win over the Warriors lifted the Bulldogs to equal eighth spot on the NRL ladder, and was Barba's best match of the season.

The 23-year-old scored the match-winning try and said he felt much happier than he was earlier in the year when he questioned his desire to play rugby league.

When asked if he was in a better mental state, Barba replied: "I am, obviously."

"It's hard to not smile when you're winning games I guess," he added.

"I'm enjoying my football at the moment.

"I've just got to keep working hard to keep playing good footy and then I'm sure the smile will be around for a lot longer."

Another smile returns to the Bulldogs lineup this week, with Inu having served a five-game ban for his ugly spear tackle on South Sydney's Greg Inglis.

"He looks fitter and stronger I think after five weeks of cardio and extra training," Barba said.

"He's an experienced player and a game-winner. I'm looking forward to combining with him again."